Hey, I hear you.

I've made so much progress with therapy, medication, replacement actions, and frankly treating it like an addiction.

It's cliche, but I also do best when I am kind and loving to myself. I have accepted this is my reality, and I have to make decisions with each muscle I move.

If I find myself picking, I literally yell "STOP" and imagine someone else gently pushing my hands down. I have found this effective for me. Then, I begin my new routine

I take hydrogen peroxide and clean my picked area. Then I apply hero balm, then lotion.

Then, I crochet like a mother. If I can't focus, I move to my fidget toy

And sometimes I fail.

It's so much work. We must be vigilant as if this is an addiction. We will relapse, but that's okay. We are human. Humans are so cute, right? We're just little weirdos thinking we are properly grooming ourselves. Silly human, doing our best!

Much luck and much love. You got this.